Tag Archives: commuting

Sep26

accidents.

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along the way on my weekday drive

there is often a traffic mishap or accident

and if I begin to worry about being late

or get annoyed by the hold up

  i think about how the person/people involved must feel

how their life instantly changed in that moment

they were just having an ordinary day

and then

this happened

maybe they were

headed to work

to visit someone

leaving for a vacation

going to a celebration

helping someone

so many possibilities

 i’ve got no room to complain 

 nothing to worry about

puts it all right back into perspective

so i listen to my music and sit with my gratitude.

 

—

“since human wisdom cannot secure us from accidents,

it is the greatest effort of reason to bear them well. “

-john paul jones

 

 

 

 

 

 

—

image credit: wellandgood.com

Jan10

press on.

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commuting 

to and from school each day

is always a bit of an adventure/misadventure

depending upon one’s perspective.

it’s not unusual for me

to get a hands-free text or call

from one of my teaching partners 

in response to something going on in the road ahead:

 an animal crossing, tire blowout, accident, truck spill, something on fire,

weather delays, political motorcade, funeral procession,

waving mascots, emergency vehicles, pop-up detours, construction,

or that old standby:

unusually heavy traffic due to the no-reason reason.

at this point

i turn up my music or book.

 whoever happens to arrive first

will let our office know that the other

may be on time,

or

10  minutes late,

or

will arrive at a yet to be determined time before school lets out for the day.

fortunately we work with a very understanding administration.

the only thing i’ve learned to expect

is that 

  with each curve of the road

there is the very real possibility of a new surprise. 

—

“all you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.”

– earl nightingale

 

 

 

 

—

image credit: tokyoweekender

May18

early.

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Japanese commuters

Japanese train departs

25 seconds early – again!

A Japanese rail company has apologised after a train left a station 25 seconds early, the second such case in months.The operator said the “great inconvenience we placed upon our customers was truly inexcusable”.

If the details are anything to go by, customers are faced with slipping standards: a train last November left 20 seconds early while this time it was a full 25 seconds premature.

 

Japanese trains have a reputation for extreme punctuality, and it turned out that there were indeed still people hoping to get onboard. Left on the platform, they complained to the rail operator and an official apology was issued shortly afterwards.

In the case last November, management on the Tsukuba Express line between Tokyo and the city of Tsukuba said they “sincerely apologise for the inconvenience” caused. Back then the mishap was also caused by the conductor mixing up departure times – though no passenger was left behind.

—

“it’s too early to go, but it’s never too late to leave.”

-anthony t. hincks
—
credits: bbc news/asia, japan today
Presentational grey line
Nov3

life is too short for traffic. ~dan bellack

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there is something wrong with this.

it’s like starting out your journey

by surrendering to the inevitable traffic jam,

knowing you’ll be frustrated and angry.

what about making

a tiny carry-out espresso cup

instead

that reads:

“just a quick shot to enjoy

as we’re sure you will

soon be arriving

at your destination?” 

i could really go for that.

May7

my odyssey with the iliad.

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with the absence of my carpool mate

due to the arrival of her newest bambino

i attempted to fill my commute time

with my personal repertoire

of all things musical

every known

genre and format

then

sports rants

  in-car karaoke singing

 thoughtful npr shows

science

politics

mindless morning shows

when

i remembered

audio books

 the iliad

seemed

the perfect candidate

 a story

i read under duress

long ago

yet remembered

nothing of

i decided

to give it

a second chance

it was an incredible odyssey for me

filled

with drama

and matched wits

and dialogue

long forgotten

 “you are a bitch, unparalleled.”

“i will offer you 3 fine horses and a chariot or a woman who will sleep with you.”

“my wife, the goddess, defies me out of habit.”

not unlike reality tv shows

but much better written

with humor

and grace

and honor

and ego

and pride

and emotion

and death

and rituals

and flashy armor

and sumptuous meals

and lusty sex

and days off from fighting

for celebrations

and memorials

and just for rest

and always

the behind the scenes manipulations

with gods

and mortals

mixing it up

 all trying

to find their way

 figure out life

win their battles

much like the rest of us

and

 i grew to love the story

all fourteen discs of it

through

rain

dark

sunrises

traffic jams

accidents

highway miles

sunsets

high winds

 i looked forward to it

every day

as i began to understand

who all the

‘son of, maker of, and those whose names all ended with the letter s’

 characters were

 how they were connected

 when it all ended

i was left wanting more

and

if only

homer had

written another

epic poem

he could have called it

“the odyssey”

oh, he did.

and

i can’t wait.

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the journey has been incredible from its beginning.
– sidney poitier